ELISPOT facts for kids

ELISPOT stands for "Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Spot Assay". It is a special laboratory test that helps scientists find and count tiny cells that make certain substances. These substances can be things like cytokines (which are like messengers for your immune system) or antibodies (which help fight off germs).

Scientists often use the ELISPOT method with blood cells. It's a super helpful tool for studying how our immune system works and how different treatments, like vaccines, affect our bodies.

How Does ELISPOT Work?

In the ELISPOT technique, scientists use small containers called "wells." They put the cells they want to study into these wells, along with other special substances. When the cells make the substances they are looking for, tiny colored spots appear near those cells.

Scientists can then count these spots. They might use a microscope to count them by hand, or they can use special machines with computer vision that count the spots automatically.

Why Is ELISPOT Important?

The ELISPOT test is very sensitive. This means it can find even a single cell that is making the substance scientists are looking for! It's also very flexible. Scientists can change the test to look for many different kinds of specific substances that cells might produce. This makes it a powerful tool for understanding diseases and developing new medicines.

See also

In Spanish: ELISPOT para niños